APRIL 07 THURSDAY
BAKED TO PERFECTION Denis Calandra has been an important academic presence in Tampa since 1978. In addition to serving as a professor of theater at USF, Calandra is an accomplished producer, director and author whose works focus on individual passions and social conscience. The School of Theatre and Dance at USF closes out its 2004-05 season with his play, Cuban Bread, which examines the political and cultural climate of Ybor City in the 1930s through the life and experiences of Alonso Rivera, an aging radical who reads to cigar laborers while they work. Cuban Bread has been praised as a "dramatically compelling, historically resonant" play by Nancy Hewitt, a professor of history at Rutgers University. It's even attracted the attention of BBC Television producer and director Simon Curtis, who will attend the April 8 performance. This is an Arte 2005 event (please see The List for details). 8 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., April 7-10; and 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., April 13-17. $12 general/$6 students and seniors. College of Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre II, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-974-2323.
A MEDLEY OF PETFORMERS In a recent interview with the Philadelphia Daily News, Gregory Popovich explained that the "secret" behind training cats to perform tricks is to find some natural behavior the cat enjoys, encourage it – and then pray the fickle feline will do it on command. The gods are listening … or he's just really good at what he does. Either way, Popovich has managed to impress animal lovers nationwide with his Comedy Pet Theatre, a Vegas-style indoor circus act featuring 16 trained housecats and eight dogs, plus a few other talented domestics along for the ride. Tonight, you can see these former pound residents perform a series of outstanding feats, like a housecat taking his doggie friend for a ride in a baby carriage; and cats, dogs, birds and mice taking the last train to Clarksville, or wherever a motley gang of animals wants to go. This is a great show for kids, but animal lovers and the young at heart should enjoy it as well. 7 p.m. $20 general/$15 students. Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 841-953-3368.
APRIL 8 FRIDAY
ART FROM A LATIN PERSPECTIVE The Arts Center opens three exhibits in conjunction with Arte 2005, the Bay area's Latin American/Caribbean arts festival. These exhibits document the personal journeys of a Haitian artist and two Cuban-American artists from Miami as they explore themes of cultural separation, broken familial ties and nostalgia for a distant homeland. Maria Emilia's Life Performances 2002-05 features drawings, paintings and photographs depicting the passage of her alter ego through its various stages of life. In Reflections on the Human Condition, Maria Brito displays self-portrait paintings, sculptures, and installations that deal with the search for self and her personal history of displacement and loss. And Jean-Claude LeGagneur's Vivid Perspectives showcases a collection of vibrant portraits and still lifes. The opening reception takes place this evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Regular hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. noon-4 p.m. Sun. The Exhibit continues through May 15. 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-822-7872.
URBAN EXPLORATION Spring, spring, it makes me wanna sing, it makes me wanna show off my blinggity bling-bling. It makes me wanna break from my agoraphobic cage, and kick it outdoors with American Stage. Dig. Now, let's move on to my apology for this pathetic attempt at rapping, seeing as my only experience stems from a period in junior high when I changed my name to Laqueetha and wore a lot of purple. But seriously, if you were at least a little amused by my take on the rap format, check out The Bomb-itty of Errors, a retelling of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors (as if you couldn't tell by the title). Hip-hop meets the Bard in this American Stage production, the first in this year's Shakespeare in the Park series. Planet theater pundit Mark Leib called the 2002 performance "exuberant, absurd and amazingly kinetic," and selected Bomb-itty as one of the best locally produced shows that year. Many of the original cast and crew members (including director Andy Goldberg) return for this season's presentation. Don't miss it. 8 p.m. Wed.-Sun., April 8-17. Demens Landing, 100 First Ave., S.E., St. Petersburg, 727-823-7529.
APRIL 9 SATURDAY
BROWNING'S FOLLIES Diana Browning always seems to be in search of ways to entertain the Bay area community. While Poetry on the Edge attracts a respectable crowd, the events are somewhat limited in that they only cater to poets and folks who enjoy the spoken word. So, Browning masterminded The April Follies, a more extravagant art happening that features an evening of delights, including erotic poetry readings by Browning, Lynzee, Bill Martin, Moe St. Evergreen and many others; cabaret and belly dancing by Christina Alexander; and a naughty performance piece starring Lady Dove, Jazzman and Boi. A collection of paintings and photography by a handful of local artists will be displayed, and live props – like Castle frequenter and tutu collector The Senator – provide continuous entertainment. Starts at 8:30 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Look Hair Group and Color Studio, 209 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, 813-837-3052.
APRIL 10 SUNDAY
SAMBA AND SALSA NOT INCLUDED Nonprofit arts organization Friends of Dance hosts a great line-up of talent in Celebrate with Dance! – Latino Hearts on Fire. This two-act performance of classical and contemporary ballet is presented by accomplished professionals, upcoming stars and Les Jeunes Danseurs Youth Ballet Company. Program highlights include George Balanchine's "Tarantella," a contemporary take on the lively Italian folk dance presented by Daniel Ulbricht and partner Megan Fairchild, both members of the New York City Ballet; a presentation of "Diana and Acteon," Agrippina Vagonova's pas de deux, with Ashlee Dupré of Colorado Ballet and American Ballet Theatre celebrity Jose Manuel Carreno starring as the mythical Greek figures; and Isabel and Javier Dubrocq's colorful and Dali-esque modern dance routine, "Cirque de Subconscience." As an added treat, Javier's surrealistic paintings will be displayed in the Mahaffey Theater lobby. Admission proceeds benefit the Friends of Dance scholarship fund, which provides serious young ballet students in the Bay area with training to supplement their dance studio classes. 4 p.m. $10. Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-892-5767.
APRIL 13 WEDNESDAY
JUICY JAMMERS A few weeks ago, I was cruising jambands.com and meeting my weekly quota of formulaic neo-hippie activities when I came across Green Lemon, a band whose music was acknowledged as "New Groove of the Month" for March 2005. Curiosity spurred me to browse the Audio Live Music Archive (a valuable resource for legally acquired live music recordings) and I downloaded a few of their shows without delay. I was not disappointed. Songs like "Intergalactic Intercourse" delve into new-wave, electronic funk, while "Los Federales" offers tight riffs, Zeppelin-inspired percussion and fresh vocal harmonies. The all-male quintet is not above covers, either, and their catalog includes an unexpectedly good, reggae-fied version of Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You." Green Lemon visits Florida on their spring tour and you can enjoy their self-described "reggadelic/conceptual/improv jam" music in St. Petersburg this evening. 8 p.m. $5 (ages 18 and up only). The Bank Nightclub and Concert Venue, 1919 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-898-4488, www.greenlemonband.com.
This article appears in Apr 6-12, 2005.